Editor's Desk: Nicky Cox, First News

Describe the newspaperFirst News is a national weekly newspaper for young people. It covers all the national and international headlines of the week, providing the background to news stories. It also covers news stories of particular interest to children.

Who are its readers?Boys and girls between the ages of seven and 14. According to a survey by YouGov, half of the parents read their child’s copy too.

How did the paper begin?When I was 12 years old, I was already a news junkie but struggled to make my way through The Times and The Daily Telegraph. The editorial assumed prior knowledge that I just did not have. I was determined to launch a children’s newspaper and in May 2006 it happened.

What makes a great story for First News?Something that interests and engages children. A story about two burnt koalas who found love after surviving the Australian bush fires ticked all the boxes. It was a big, international story, there were cute animals and it had a happy ending.

Of which story are you most proud?We ran a story about child soldiers and it struck a chord with our readers, who had no idea that children as young as ten were armed with guns in other countries and being forced to fight. Our readers told us they wanted to help, so we launched a campaign called Conflict Children.

What would you like to receive from PROs?Big, exciting ideas that are more than just a straightforward write-up of a new product. We have a roadshow where we tour schools and other venues, and we do supplements and website tie-ins. We are looking for ideas that are out of the box.

What annoys you the most about PROs?Calling us on Tuesday mornings when we go to press. Some probably don’t know, so, for anyone reading, please call after 1pm on Tuesdays.

What are your media must-haves? BBC News 24, The Week, and all the national dailies.

Circulation 763,800 Lead times Three days for news; ten days for featuresContact nicky.cox@firstnews.co.uk